12th October, 2011
A legal practitioner and cleric, Pastor Abikoye Opeyemi Timothy, 38, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a four-count charge to commit felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence. He was remanded in prison for his inability to perfect his bail.
The police alleged in the charge sheet that between November 2009 and April 2010 at A & P Foods Ltd, 7, Carr Street, Ikeja, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, Abikoye did with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2,359,000 from Chief Sameer Vaswani, the managing director of A & P Foods Ltd as a professional fee under the pretence to render legal services to the company but failed to render the service, a representation he knew was false and he fraudulently converted the money to his personal use.
The police also alleged that on 20 May, 2011, he allegedly issued an Intercontinental Bank Plc cheque number 13295590 to A & P Foods Ltd, but when it was presented for payment at the bank, it was dishonoured due to insufficient funds standing to the credit of the account.
The offence, the prosecutor claimed is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap. 17 Vol. II, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2001.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.The presiding Magistrate Mrs. F. O. Aigbo Khaevbo granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the matter till 4 November 2011 for mention.
The accused was moved to Ikoyi Prison when he could not perfect the bail conditions before the court closed for the day.
—Paul Iyoghojie